Open space and environment

Washington Valley Park access drive and tree removal

Bridgewater sued Somerset County and the county Park Commission on Oct. 16, 2025 over trees cleared for a new county access drive into Washington Valley Park from Vosseller Avenue. The court denied temporary and preliminary restraints in fall 2025; the Council President reported on Oct. 1, 2026 that the lawsuit is pending.

Checked against the primary record on . Every figure on this page is sourced at the foot of the article.

Township lawsuit against the county pending Last moved

What happens next

No hearing date is in the record LocalWhy has reviewed. The Council President reports on the case at Township Council meetings; the park itself is governed by Somerset County, whose commissioners meet in public.

Washington Valley Park is a 719-acre Somerset County park in Bridgewater. In fall 2025 the county built a new access drive into the park from Vosseller Avenue, about 1,500 feet long, as county officials described it.

The dispute. The township said the county’s contractor removed an estimated 300 to 500 trees on a slope above the Vosseller Avenue area that the township repaired after Hurricane Ida, while the plans showed far fewer. Sources give two counts for the trees listed in the contract documents: 34 (the township’s statement, reported by TAPinto, and county counsel at the Oct. 28, 2025 county meeting) and 37 (Patch, Nov. 14, 2025). County counsel said the bid also had a separate “site clearing” item covering trees beyond the listed ones.

In court. The township filed suit on Oct. 16, 2025 in Superior Court in Somerset County against the county and the Somerset County Park Commission (docket SOM-C-012074-25, from the caption of a filing Patch published). Judge Haekyoung Suh denied temporary restraints on Oct. 17 and a preliminary injunction on Nov. 10, 2025. The Park Commission moved to dismiss, saying it had no role in the project; a ruling was set for Dec. 19, 2025, and its outcome has not been found. On Sept. 17, 2026 Council President Joan Geiger said discussions were continuing “with the goal of reaching an amicable resolution,” and on Oct. 1 she reported that work on “the pending lawsuit” is ongoing.

The explainer sets out each side’s account and the figures that differ.

What residents can do. Ask about the case in public comment at Township Council meetings, where the Council President reports on it, and at Somerset County Commissioners’ meetings, which govern the park. Court filings are held by the Superior Court, Somerset County. Corrections: info@localwhy.org.

The park tree case, explained

Timeline

Each dated event on this issue, oldest first, linked to the full sourced entry.

  1. In court Township sues Somerset County over tree removal at Washington Valley ParkBridgewater filed suit in Superior Court, Somerset County, against Somerset County and the Somerset County Park Commission over trees cleared for the county's new park access drive from Vosseller Avenue (docket SOM-C-012074-25, per a filing caption Patch published).
  2. In court Court denies temporary restraints in the park tree caseJudge Haekyoung Suh denied the township's request for temporary restraints "for failure to demonstrate immediate and irreparable harm," as Patch quoted the order. The township started an online petition to the county commissioners on Oct. 20.
  3. Resolved County presents its account of the park access driveAt the county commissioners' meeting, the county engineer described the project's design and permits, and county counsel said the bid's "site clearing" item covered trees beyond the listed ones. The Mayor asked the county to commit to replacing trees.
  4. In court Preliminary injunction denied; Park Commission moves to dismissJudge Suh denied a preliminary injunction on Nov. 10, 2025. On Nov. 12 the Park Commission moved to dismiss, saying it is an independent body with no role in the project; a ruling was set for Dec. 19, 2025.
  5. In court Council President reports the park tree lawsuit is pendingCouncil President Joan Geiger reported meeting the administration on "the pending lawsuit regarding the removal of various trees by the County" and that "work on the matter is ongoing." On Sept. 17 she said talks aimed at "an amicable resolution."

Explainers

Documents

The township's own records on this issue. Each links to the official copy.

Meetings

  • Township Council — October 1, 2026

    The Council adopted #26-16, adding snow emergency no-parking streets, and introduced ordinances releasing expired affordability controls on Block 520 Lot 17 and ending elected officials' eligibility for township health benefits, all 5-0, with hearings October 15. The Director of Municipal Services presented the required replacement floodplain ordinance ahead of FEMA's November 13 maps. A Pilot Fiber agreement was tabled.

  • Township Council — September 17, 2026

    The Council awarded the emergency radio equipment contract to Motorola Solutions, up to $2,950,000, and introduced an ordinance adding streets to the snow emergency no-parking list, all 5-0. It also approved a backhoe purchase, The Clubhouse liquor license transfer, the KM Construction final change order and a one-year extension of the police chief's contract. Ring said his ordinance ending elected officials' health benefits was drafted for October 1.

  • Township Council — November 6, 2025

    With Councilman Pedroso absent, the Council introduced, 4-0, a $4,100,000 bond ordinance for Phase 2 of the Middle Brook sewer pumping station and ordinances on massage businesses, the towing roster and health fees. It renewed Stavola's 2026 quarry license, awarded a snow-removal contract of up to $60,000 to RJM Landscape and Design, and approved a $642,997.23 paving contract for Plymouth Road, Ryan Way and Jeffrey Lane. The Planner reported medical-office interest at the Somerset Corporate Center.

Sources for this overview

  1. Township Council minutes, Oct. 1, 2026 ("the pending lawsuit")
  2. Township Council minutes, Sept. 17, 2026
  3. Patch, "Tree Removal Lawsuit Challenged By Somerset County Parks Commission," Nov. 14, 2025
  4. TAPinto, "Bridgewater Township Files Legal Complaint Against County Regarding Tree Removals at Washington Valley Park," Oct. 17, 2025
  5. TAPinto, "Residents Speak Out Regarding County Removal of Trees at Washington Valley Park," Oct. 29, 2025
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